Hoist controller



Feb. 7, 1939.

H. LOGAN HOIS'I CONTROLLER Filed Sept. 14, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 7, 1939. I H. H. LOGAN HOI ST CONTROLLER Filed Sept. 14, 1936' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 7, 1939.

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H. H. LOGAN 2,146,124

HOIST CONTROLLER Filed Sept; 14, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 v flaeraiv-r:

172727 9 HLa gan 2 Feb. 7, 1939. H, AN' 2,146,124

HOIST CONTROLLER Filed Sept. 14, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 727 H Lqgazn Feb. 7, 1939. H H LOGAN 2,146,124

HOI ST CONTROLLER Filed Sept. 14, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Flare Hal/ 9002 fizz 3 .5.

Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICIE 5 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in hoist controllers and is particularly concerned with improvements adapted to be used in connection with mine hoists at deep mines.

- The present improvements are particularly applicable to the hoist control devices disclosed and covered by the reissued Letters Patent No. 17,374 of William J. Lilly and Henry H. Logan, reissued July 16, 1929. The present specification is to be considered in the light of the disclosure of that patent and the specification of the patent is incorporated by reference thereto, since the present application relates to improved features that may be added to hoist controls of the type covered by the said patent.

In the standard controller as embodied in the above mentioned patent, there are two cam dials which rotate less than onerevolution during the hoisting and lowering of a mine cage in the shaft for the full distance of travel. In the case of very deep shafts, it is obvious that the movement of the dials is very slow, and any given point on the periphery of the dial will move a relatively short distance for each 100 feet of cage travel.

In the embodiment described in the patent, the dials move uniformly with the hoist drum throughout the complete range of movement of the mine cage and the hoist drum, but at a reduced speed due to the use of speed reduction gears. Inasmuch as the profiled portion of the cam must represent the retarding distance at the ends of the trip and the cam dials must rotate less than one complete revolution to keep the cam from coming around again, it follows that the cam profile must necessarily be very short in such a case.

There are manycases where it is desirable to have a more accurate cam to control the retardation of large hoists than can be provided by the arrangement shown in the patent. If a long cam were to be used withthe standard device of the patent and the dial speeded up sufliciently to move the cam profile over the roller during the time of retardation, it would not be possible to complete the trip without rotating the dial such a great distance that the back of the cam would go around and engage the roller again, thereby causing the hoist to be stopped prematurely. The other alternative way of increasing the length of the cam would be to increase the size of the dial, but this is not practical as it would involve the entire rearrangement of the proportions of levers and other associated parts, and would make the control too large and unwieldy.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of an improved hoist controller which is adapted to give a more accurate cam control of the retardation of a hoist. Otherwise stated, another purpose of the improvement is to permit the use of a long cam and at the same time to prevent the over-run of the back of the cam before the end of the trip is reached.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved hoist controller having a 10 retardation cam in which the control of the cam is made more accurate by virtue of the fact that the cam does not rotate throughout the full range of movement of the hoist, but is only picked up and rotated with the hoist as the hoist approaches 15 the point at which control should be exercised by the cam.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved hoist controller of the class described having such a long cam arrangement, 20 which is also adapted to be embodied in a controller having a man-safety arrangement, whereby the limits of travel and of control by the cams may be changed by the operator when the cage is intended to carry men instead of rock or other material.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the severalviews. 30 Referring to the five sheets of drawings accompanying the specification, Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a hoist controller of the type covered by Resissue Letters Patent No. 17,374 embodying the present invention; 35

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through the dial shaft of the controller, showing the details of construction of some of the additional features constructed according to the present invention; 40

Fig. 3 isan end elevational view of the controller of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of another modification in which provision is made for advancing the cam dial and limiting the travel to a 5 shorter distance when men are being handled;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on a plane passing through the axis of the dial shaft showing the details of construction of the additional features associated with the dial 5 shaft in this modification;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view taken from the left end of Fig. 4 showing the modification of Figure 4.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, l0 indicates in its en- 55 tirety a hoist controller embodying substantially all of the features of the prior Lilly and Logan Reissue Letters Patent No. 17,374. The improvements herein are added to the structure of that patent and with a few exceptions, comprise additional structure. There are a few elements, however, which are substituted in the 'present embodiment for elements used in the patent to which detailed reference will be made. An entirely new series of numerals, commencing above the number 200, will be used for describing these additional improvements in order to eliminate confusion with the indicia used in the Lilly and Logan reissue patent.

Referring to Figure 1, 200 indicates the dial which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 209. As distinguished from the patent referred to in which the dial 200 was fixedly mounted on the shaft 209, in the present embodiment the dial is mounted for free rotation on the shaft 209 as shown in Figure 2, and its rotation is controlled by the interengagement of certain other parts later to be described. It will be understood from consideration of the patent that the dial shaft 209 is driven at a reduced speed by speed reduction gears of the same type described in the patent, which are actuated by the shaft 20l which is. connected by gears, sprockets or the like to the hoist drum.

Referring to the section shown in Figure 2, the dial shaft 209 carries a spider 205 which is free to rotate on the shaft, and the spider carries the cam dial 200 in the usual Way. The spider 205 also carries an axially extending hub member 206 which embraces the dial shaft 209 andv is rigidly attached to the. spider by cap screws or the like. The hub member 206 is held in central position by its periphery 202v engaging. the bore 203 in the dial. It will be noted that the dial is adjustably mounted on the spider 205 by means of screws which slide in the. arcuate channels 204..

The outer end of the hub member 206 is provided with a threaded bore 2|.3 into which a threaded sleeve 201 fits and within which the sleeve rotates. The sleeve 20.1 has a cylindrical bore 2M which slidably engages the shaft 209. Shaft 209. carries a feather 2|0 which is rigidly fastened in the shaft and the sleeve 201 has a keyway fitting the feather 2 [0 so that when the shaft 209 is rotated, it also rotates the sleeve 20'! but the sleeve 20"! is free to slide on the shaft as. driven by the threaded bore 213;

The spider 205 is heldin proper position on the shaft 209 by a thrust collar 2|'| which may be secured in place by a set screw, the spider being engaged at the opposite end of its hub by a shoulder 2 It on the shaft 209. The hub member 206 carries a hardened. steel dog 2|2, which in the position shown in Figure 2 engages with another hardened steel dog 2| I carried by the radially extending flange 215 of sleeve 201.. Both these dogs may comprise members which are provided with heads; which are substantially square and each having a shank which is riveted over or secured by a thread and nut.

The stop member 208 comprises a radially extending arm provided with a split clamping ring 2E8 drawn into clamping position on the hub 205 by means of screw bolts in the usual way. It may be rotated and clamped in any desired position on the hub 206; The split clamping ring 2&8 has a radially extending flange 2 I 9 which, in conjunction with the reduced portion 220 on the hub member 206, forms a groove at 220 to accommodate a chain 22l, (Fig. I). The upper end of the chain 22| is attached to a pin which is secured in the face of the flange 2|9 and the lower end of the chain is connected to a weight 222, which slides freely in the guide tube 223. The frame of the controller carries an upwardly extending rod 224 having a laterally bent end serving as a stop for engaging the stop arm 208 when rotated by the weight 222.

Referring again to Figure 2, it will be note that the amount of overlapping engagement of the steel dogs 2 and 2|2 is less than the pitch of the thread on the sleeve 20'! and in the bore 2|3. Thus when the sleeve 201. is rotated one complete rotation in a direction to separate the faces of the dogs from each other, it would have moved outward a distance to permit the dogs to pass each other with some clearance between them.

It should also be noted that the sleeve 20'! may be moved outward a number of turns without disengaging the threads while the hub member 206 and other parts rigidly attached to it remain stationary. That is the shaft 209 may rotate the sleeve 20'! without rotating the dial 200 throughout the major portion of the travel of the hoist, the dial 200 being carried with the shaft 209 only when the dogs 2| I, 2| 2 are in enmost position. Let us assume now that the hoist is started so as to lower the cage in the shaft and to cause a rotation of the shaft 209 in the direction indicated by the arrow in. Fig. 1.

The shaft in rotating carries with it the sleeve 201 by virtue of the feather 2 l0. In Fig. 2 it will be observed that the dog 2|2 is behind the dog 2H and the dial 200: is urged in the direction of the arrow in Fig.1 by the action of the weight 222, but is restrained from movement by the engagement of the dogs 2| l, 2|2. As the shaft 209 rotates it permits the dog 2|2 and dial 200 to rotate under the action of weight 222' until the arm 208 is intercepted by the stop rod 224.

The shaft 209 continues to rotate with the hoist until at the end of one turn after the engagement of the stop, the dogs 2 and 2|2 have been moved axially with respect to each other so that they now pass eachother without interference. Each additional revolution of the shaft 209 carries the dogs 2| l, 2|2 a further distance apart, equal to the pitch of the thread, until the cage reaches the bottom of the shaft, but the dial 200 remains stationary after the stop arm 208 has engaged the stop member 224-.

Let us now assume that the hoist is reversed to bring the cage up to the surface. The shaft 209 running in the reverse direction will cause the threaded sleeve 20? to screw into the threaded hub 206 until the dogs 2 and 2|2 come into engagement with each other. Near the end of the trip the dogs come into engagement with each other and cause the dial to be moved with the sleeve 20'! in a direction opposite to the arrow in Figure 1 until the cams reach the position, corresponding to the top limit of the cage, which is shown in Figure 1.

While it would be possible to utilize only a few degrees of the travel of the dial of the standard controller,. as shown in the Lilly and Logan patent, for the retarding period, it is possible with the arrangement described herein, to use 90 or more of the dial for the same purpose with correspondingly greater accuracy.

Coal or ore is usually hoisted above the surface of the ground to a binin a head frame or tipple. Men are usually discharged from the cage at ground level. Therefore hoist controllers usually have some provision for changing the limits of travel and the shorter range of travel usually corresponds to the hoisting of men.

Referring again to the Lilly and Logan patent,

' it will be observed that provision is made by actuating the rod I08 for advancing the cam dial and thereby limiting the travel to a shorter distance when men are being handled, but the arrangement used in that patent would not provide sufficient rotation of the cam dial if it were used with the improved dial drive such'as ,that described above. In other words, with the use of a longer cam, it becomes necessary to use a mechanism effecting a greater rotation of the dial to change the limits of travel.

Referring now toFigures 4, and 6, this is a modification in which an arrangement has been added for the purpose of rotating the dial to change the limits of travel. Referring to Figure 5, a sliding sleeve 235 is interposed between the shaft 299 as shown in Figure 2 and the threaded sleeve 291. In this embodiment, the driving feather 2H3 is fastened in the outer part of the sliding sleeve 235 and the shaft 209 has a pin 225 through it which engages in spiral slots 226 in the opposite sides of the sliding sleeve 235.

It follows from this description that if the sleeve 235 is caused to move endwise on the shaft 229, it will have the effect of rotating the member 297 a part of a revolution, and consequently if the dogs are engaged, it will also move the cam dial through the same angular distance. The possible amount of variation and movement of the cam dial with this arrangement amounts to about 90"- Referring to Fig. 4, a yoke 22! is provided to 1 engage in the groove 228 on the sleeve 235. The end of the shaft 209 is shown at 229' and the sleeve 235 may be provided with a threaded counterbore 230 for receiving an adjustment screw 23 I. The adjustment screw 23| is secured in place by a lock nut 232, and thus the range of movement of the sleeve 235 on the shaft 299 may be determined by the adjustment of the screw 23!. The yoke 22'! is pivotally mounted in the forked end of a split arm 233 which may be built up, as shown in Figure 4, out of two identical halves secured together by rivets or other convenient fastening means. The split arm 233 is fulcrumed on a pin 234 which is mounted in stud 235'.

Referring to Figure 6, the springs 236 maintain an outward pressure against the split arms 233 to take up the slack on the rods 23! of Fig. 4.

It should be understood that in both the embodiments described herein, as well as in the Lilly and Logan patent, the hoist controller may have one or two dials depending upon the conditions of installation, and when there are two dials, the mechanism onthe opposite sides of the controller are identical so that only one need be described in detail.

A means of connection for manual operation is provided by a connection at the point 238 between two arms 239 fastened to the shafts 240, each of these shafts extending from the center line 24I which is indicated by a numeral in Figure 6, so that either shaft may be operated independently of the other.

Either one or two connecting rods 242 may be used to connect these arms 239 to the arms in the controller, which in turn control the light switches for signal lights and which also control the speed permitted by the controller when men are being handled.

In the Lilly and Logan patent, the push rod, which controls the speed to compel the reduction in speed of the hoist drum at the ends of travel, is the push rod 61.

In cases where it is necessary to move each dial independently, two rods 242 will be necessary, but when both dials are moved simultaneously, one rod 242 will be suflicient, the installation depending upon a number of hoisting conditions.

At each outer end of the shaft 240 there is an arm 243 connected to arms 244 on the shaft 245 (Fig. 4), by means of universal rods 246. On the end of the shaft 245 there is an arm 24! (Fig. 6) to which a forked threaded rod 248 is attached by means of a pin 249. The rod 248 slides freely through the yoke 250 and two lock nuts on each side of the yoke 250 may be adjusted to give any desired amount of movement to the yoke 250, which is carried in the split arm 233. Consequently the arm 233 moves the sliding sleeve 235 inward or outward any desired amount within its limits of travel, with a definite amount of movement of the arms 239.

It will, therefore, be understood that when the arms 239 are moved by hand levers which are located within reach of the hoist operator, the cam dials may be advanced from the normal limits of travel so as to cause the hoist to be stopped at a point within those limits when men are being handled. The same movement will operate the light switches to indicate the position of the hand levers in addition to controlling the maximum speed permitted while men are being handled.

Aside from the action of the sliding sleeve 235 which advances the dial at the will of the operator, the operation of the embodiment in Figures 4 to 6 is identical with that described for Figures 1 to 3. It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved hoist controller in which a long cam may be used without increasing the size of the dial and without the cam traveling so far that its back reaches and engages the roller. The dial control is such that the dial is adapted to stand still throughout the major portion of the travel of the hoist, and it only comes into operation near the limits of travel where control by the cams on the dial is required.

The present arrangement effects a more accurate cam control of the retardation of a hoist and it may also be equipped with the man safety mechanism which advances the dial and changes the limits of travel when men are being handled.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to claim by United States tatabie connection with said shaft whereby said shoulders may be brought into or out of engagement with each other by the slidng movement of said threaded member on said shaft.

2. In a hoist control, the combination of a cam dial with means for urging said cam dial in one direction, a. driven shaft, a threaded member carried by said shaft interengaging shoulders carried by said threaded member and said dial, said threaded member having a sliding non-rotatable connection with said shaft whereby said shoulders may be brought into or out of engagement with each other by the sliding movement of said threaded member on said shaft, and stop means for limiting the movement of said shaft.

3. In a hoist control, the combination of a cam dial with means for urging said cam dial in one direction, a driven shaft, a threaded member carried by said shaft interengaging shoulders carried by said threaded member and said dial, said threaded member having a sliding non-rotatable connection with said shaft whereby said shoulders may be brought into or out of engagement with each other by the sliding movement of said threaded member on said shaft, said control having a sleeve interposed between said threaded member and said shaft, said sleeve having a pin and camming slot connection with said shaft whereby axial movement of the latter sleeve is adapted to advance the dial".

4. In a hoist control, the combination of a hoist controller provided with a dial, said dial supporting a plurality of cam means for controlling the retardation of a hoist controlled by said controller, saidcam means being driven in synchronisnr with at hoist, 'a driven member which is driven in synchronism with the hoist, means for connecting said dial to said driven member at a predetermined point in the travel of the' hoist, and for disconnecting said dial from said driven member during the other predetermined parts of the travel of the hoist,

whereby a more accurate control of retardation from said driven member during the other predetermined parts of the travel of the hoist, whereby a more accurate control of retardation may be exercised by said dial and cam means during the period when retardation is desired, said connecting means comprising a screw and follower, and inter-engaging shoulders on said follower and dial adapted to engage only when the follower and control member have progressed on the screw to a point where the shoulders engage each other.

HENRY H. LOGAN. 

